Hat-brim-ironing machine



Patented Oct. 26, 1926.

RALPH K. REYNOLDS, OF DANBURY, CONNECTICUT.

HAT-BRIMfIRONING MACHINE.

` Application led August 7, 1924.

This invention relates to hat ironing machines and more particularly to machines for ironing the brims of hats.

One of the objects of the invention is to providev a hat brim ironing machine of practical construction and efficient action. Another object is to provide ainachine of the above nature capable of operating dependably at all times to turn outl a high grade of Work in a rapid and thorough manner. Another object is to provide a machine of the above nature of strong sturdy construction adapted to withstand hard and long continued usage. Another object is to provide such a machine which is conveniently ope-rated and readily adapted to varying sizes and shapes of hats` Another object to provide a hat brim ironing machine wherein both surfaces of the brim are ironed inone operation. Other objects will be in part obvious or in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly iconsists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts as will be exemplified in zthe structure to be hereinafter described and the scope of the application of which will be indicated inthe following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which is shown one of the various possible ,embodiments of this invention,

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a brim ironi ing machine;

Figure 2 is .a section taken substantially along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, certain parts being shown in elevation;

Figure 3 is a section taken substantially along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Figure 4 is a view corresponding` to the `left-hand portion of Fig. 2 showing` the `parts `in another position;

Figure 5 is a vertical section through the .hat supporting mechanism;

Figure 6 is a front elevation of an iron,- Aand i Figure 7 is a bottom plan view of theI iron shown in Fig. 6.

Similar reference characters refer to simi- I lar ,parts throughout the several `views of the drawings.

.Referring nov: to Figures 1 and of` the will be later described.

Serial No. 730,581.

drawings in detail, the mechanisms comprising this machine are supported upon a suitable base or frame 10, the upper surface of which forms a platform or table 11. r1`he hat to be operated upon is shown at 12 and is supported and rotated in a manner which The brim 12a of the hat projects over the table 11, its under surface or face being adapted to coact With the flat surface of a support 13. This support 13 is supported by the table 11 and is movable transversely thereof, being carried by rollers such as 11n and 11J on a pair vof parallel guides lll and 15 secured upon the upper surface of the table 11. The support `13` isalso prefcrablyheated as by means of a suitable gas burner or electrical heating device situated in the cavity 1G therein.

, rl`he support 13 is thus capable of a reciprocating movement upon its rollers back and forth alongthe guides 1-1 and 15, and being heated it assumes the character of an iron adapted to iron the under surface of the brim 12CL `of the hat.

Restingupon the upper surface of the brim 12al above the support 13 is an iron `17 which is heated, for example, by means of a suitable gas burner or electrical heating device positioncd Within the cavity 18 therein. This iron 17 is carried upon the forward end of a bar 19, Which baris slidably supported in a carriage 20. A compression spring 21 adjustable through a Asuitable set `screw 25 and lool; nut 26 urges the iron 17 toward the crown ofthe hat 12 thereby causing the iron at all times to operate upon the brim 12a closeup to the croivn of the hat.

T ie carriage 2O thus carrying the iron 17 is slidably mounted in an arcuate groove formed between. `a pair of upstanding lianges and 2S on the surface of the table 11. The carriage 2G and hence the iron 17 are thus capable of sliding back and forth along .the guiding flanges 27 and 23, the iron operating upon the upper surface of the hat brim 12a and being continuously urged toward the crown of the Vhat by the compression` spring 21. The iron 17 bears by gravity upon the i hat-brim 12 and-preferabiy has a pivotal ccnoperative position by means of a handle 30, for example.

Secured to the side of the frame 1() are a. pair of brackets 31 and 32 in which is rotatably supported a horizontal shaft 33. This shaft 33 carries a tight and looose pulley 34, through which it is adapted to be driven from any suitable source of power, and has thereon between its bearings 31 and 32 a worm 35. The. worm 35 meshes with a worm wheel 36 upon a vertical shaft 37 supported in bearings 38 and 39 secured to the frame 10. The vertical shaft 37 is thus driving pulley 34.

- Adjacent the upperend of the shaft 37 is secured a crank 40 to which is pivoted at 41 a connecting link 42, which link is pivoted at its other end at 43 to the slidable carriage 2O carrying the iron 17. Rotation of the shaft 37 thus through the crank 40 and connecting link 42 reciprocates the carriage 2O in its guides, and reciprocates the iron 17 across the surface of the hat brim 12u. Upon the shaft 37 below the crank 40, is an eccentric 44, from which, as best shown in Figure 3, projects an arm 45 which is pivoted at 46 to the lever 47. The lever 47 is pivotedat its rear end upon a pin 48 mounted in an extension 49 of the table 11, and at its forward end has a slot connection through a pin 50 and stud 51 with the slidable support or lower iron 13. T he stud 51 and the pin 50 thereon, as shown in Figure 2, project downwardly from beneath the support 13 through a slot 52 in the table 11. Rotation of the shaft 37 thus through the eccentric 44, arm 45 and lever 47 reciprocates the support or iron 13 back and forth along its guides 14 and 15.

From the above it will be seen that the portion of the hat brim 12a interposed between the two irons 13 and 17 at any instant is ironed on its under surface by the reciprocating iron 13, and on its upper surface by the reciprocating iron 17. In this manner both the upper and lower surfaces of the hat brim are ironed at once. The crank 40 and the eccentric 44 are so arranged that the two irons, the lower iron 13 and the upper iron 17, move in opposite directions during their reciprocation.

Considering now more particularly the mounting of the hat 12, with reference particularly to Figure 5, the hat is supported upon a suitable block 53 having a central bore 54. The bore 54 of the hat block 53 is adapted to fit over a spindle 55, a flange 56 limiting the downward movement of the hat block thereon. Inserted in a slot in the spindle 55 is a small pivoted lever 57, the uppcr end of which forms a key 58 adapted to register with a recess 59 of the hat block 53. A spring` 60 urges the lever 57 into engagement with the recess 59 and thisengagen ment may be released by manipulation of the lower end 57a of the lever 57. The key 58 registering with the recess 59 serves to connect the spindle 55 and the hat block 53 in rotating driving relation and also serves to correctly pos1tion the major and secured to the shaft 62 within thehollow.

bracket 63 is a transverse member 64, which is resting upon the base 63a, supports the shaft 62 and is adapted to slide upon the base 63a as the shaft rotates. Inserted loose* ly in the box 63 and held from moving upwardly therefrom by the cover 63h, are a -pair of metal blocks and 66, respectivelj7 positioned at either end of the transverse member 64. These blocks 65 and 66 are provided with vertical grooves 65a and 66a, respectively, with which the respective rounded ends of the transverse member 64 register. rIhe inner walls 63c of the box 63 are circular and the blocks 65 and 66 are adapted to slide around the same, driven b v the member 64, as the shaft 62 rotates. The V.shaft 62.I it will be seen, is' capable as it rotates of tipping from the vertical, the axis about which it tips being through either .end 64a or 64b of the transverse member 64, which supports it upon the base 63a. lhen tipping occurs about an axis through the end 64b, for example, the shaftA is supported by this end alone, and the other end 64 moves upwardly in its groove 65au (as shown in v Fig. 4).

Referring again to Figure 3, upon the shaft 37 is an eccentric 67 from which projects an arm 68, which is pivotally connected at 69 with one arm of a bell cranklever 7 6. The lever 70 is pivoted by a pin 71 upon a bracket 72 projecting from the frame 10. Pivoted at 73 to the other arm of the bell crank 70 is an arm 74 which extends toward the .shaft 62, and is connected at Vits end by a pin 75 with an arm or crank 76. The arm 76 is loosely supported at 7 6a about the shaft 62 as by a collar 77 thereon, as shown in Figures 2 and 4. Slidably supported in a pair of lugs 76h and 76C on the arm 76 is a pawl 85 which is continually urged by a spring 86 into engagement lwith a ratchet wheel 78. The ratchet 78 is ne cured .upon the shaft 62 below the hollow bearing 63, and through this ratchet and its pawl 85, actuated by the arm 74 from the eccentric 67 the shaft 62 and the hat 12 carried thereby are `inteiunitte'ntly rotated in the direction indicated by the arrows. The ratchet 78, as shown 'in Figure 3, is preferably elliptical or oval in shape to `correspond with the oval shape of the hat 12. `so that a substantially uniform amount of feed lof the brim 12a is had between theY two irons 13 and 17 with each movement of the shaft 37. The key 53 above described coacting with the hat block 53 positions the major axis of the hat 12 to correspond with the angular position of major axis of the oval ratchet 7S.

The hat brim 12a is thus intermittently moved around between the irons 13 and 17 which respectively operate upon its lower and upper surfaces. The eccentric 67 is preferably so related to the crank l0 operating the upper iron 17 that movement of the hat brim through between the irons takes place when this upper Airon 17 is moving in the direction *that the hat brim itself moves. This facilitates the moving of the hat brim between the irons without danger of buckling` or distorting lof the brim.

As is best pointed out in F ig'ure 2, all points of the inner edge of the hat brim 12a do not lie in a single plan-e, the hat being dished so that the brim curves downwardly toward the front andrear from a point on each side of the crown. Thus` for example, referring to Figure 2, the points 12b and 12" of the hat brim are considerably lower than the point 12d thereof when theshaft G2 is in the vertical position shown in this figure. Therefore, if the hat were rotated from the position shown in Figure 2 with the shaft 62 remaining vertical, the portion 121 would not come down against the surface of the lower iron or support 13, and the brim would be distorted by the upper iron 17 bearing thereon. Furthermore, the distance from the points 12b and 12c to the center of the shaft 62 is substantially greater than 'the distance from the point 121 vto the center of the shaft 62, so 'that the iron 17 would not come up close to the crown at the point 12d without a considerable movement toward the axis `of the shaft 62 under the urge of the spring 21. In order to overcome these difficulties and others, the shaft 62 is tipped upon its sup-' porting member 64, as shown in Figure 4,'

when the side portions of the hat brim move through betweenthe operating irons. This tipping' of the shaft 62 has the effect of moving the hat inwardly toward the irons, and of lowering the side portions 12d of the brim at the 'proper times to move the inner edge of the portion of the brim `beingr operated upon down against the surface of the lower iron 13.

This tipping' 'is brought about preferably by means of a Vcrank 79 secured at the lower end of the shaft 62 and carrying a pin or follower 8O which coacts with a cam `groove 81 formed in a plate 3:2 projecting from the frame 10. This cam groove 81 is substantiallyheart-shaped, as shown in AFigure `3,

and acting through the follower 80 and crank will be seen to tip the shaft 62 about the Vends of the member 61 from the vertical to the position shown in Figure 4 and bach again to the vertical as the side portions of the brim 12 move through between. the irons 17 and 13.

The tipping of the shaft 62 and the hat 12 carried thereon, as has been described, occurs about transverse axes through the ends 64a and 64b of the transverse member 64. Thus, the axes about which the shaft 62 and the hat tip are spaced laterally from the axis of th-e shaft 62. Thus, as is brought out in Figure 4, the tipping action results also in a lifting of the shaft 62 and the hat. If the axis about which the shaft tips extended through the axis of the shaft 62 there would be no lifting of the shaft and the hat, and it is found that tipping about such an axis to an extent to move the hat inwardly toward the irons the desired amount would lower the side portions 12a of the brim to too` great an extent. The lift-ing of the hat, as

above descr'bed in coiipuiction with the tip- )infr offsets; this too 0rreat loweriner of the side iortions 12d of the brim and maintains the inner ed ee of the portion of the brim be-` in the dra-wings is not fiat but is rolled up to some extent, beinef known as what is lcalled a roll or turban-shaped brim. Difficulty is -eX- perienced in successfully ironing suoli a hat brim without a flatteningr eff-ect upon the brim and ironing out of this roll. Considering now more particularly `the shape of the nner iron 1.7 it is seen to be what miffht. h

be. termed on the order of banana-shape. [ts surface 17a facing toward the crown of the hat is curved inwardly, and its `opposite surface 17b is curved outwardly while its end portions are gradually narrowed and rounded. Its lower surface, as shown in the bottom plan view of 'Figure 7 compris-es a flat operating surface 17C of relatively small area* and upwardly sloping surfaces 17(l at either end thereof. Thus only a small portion of the brim is pressed flat atone time against the flat surface of the lower iron 1.3, so that 'the roll is not ironed out `of the brim, and

the 'curved slopingV surface 17d `further assist in retainingl the rolled shape of the brim. Moreover. the surface 17a of the iron facing the crown of the hat slopes away from the hat so that the lower edge of this surface may move closely up against the bottom of the crown and iron the brim all the way up to its inner edge.

F rom the foregoing it will be seen that there is herein provided a machine which is adapted to iron hat brims in a highly etlicient and satisfactory manner. The machine is conveniently operated, readily adapted to varying conditions of practical use and attains many important and useful advantages.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the above invention and as many changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter hereinbefore setforth is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting` sense.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a hat brim ironing machine, in combination, meansadapted to support a hat, a heated iron adapted to iron the brim of hat, a fiat surface against which said brim is adapted to be ironed by said iron and said adapted to support the brim` against the thrust of said iron, means for rotating said supported hat to feed the brim across said surface and past said iron, and means adapted to give said iron a reciprocating movement along said brim substantially longitudinally of the direction of feed thereof.

2. In a hat brim ironing machine, in combination, means adapted to support a hat, a heated iron adapted to iron the brim of said hat. means for rotating said supported hat to feed the brim past said iron, and means adapted to give said iron a reciprocating movement along said brim in a path having a curvature in the same general direction as the curvature of said brim.

3. In a hat brim ironing machine, in combination, means adapted to support a hat, a heated iron adapted to iron the brim of said hat, means for giving said iron a reciprocatv ing movement, and'means includinga curved guide for causing said reciprocating` iron to travel in a curved path across said brim and longitudinally thereof.

4. In a hat brim ironing machine, in combination, means adapted to support a hat, and a pair of reciprocating` and heated irons between which the brim of said hat is received adapted to iron the two sides of said brim.

5. In a hat brim ironing machine, in combination, means adapted to support and rotate a hat, and a pair of reciprocating and heated irons between which the brim of said rotating hat moves adapted to iron the two sides of said brim. Se

6. In a hat brim ironing machine, in combination, a support for a hat brim, a moving andV heated iron adapted to iron said hat brim against said support, and means adapted to reciprocate said support beneath said hat brim.

'i'. In a hat brim ironing machine in com bination, means adapted to support and rotate a hat having a brim curved downwardly from the side portions toward the end portions thereof, a support across which the under surface of said brim is adapted to move during rotation, means adapted to iron said brim against said support, and means adapted relatively to move said support and said hat during said rotation to cause substantially all points at the innerl edge of said brim to pass through substantially the same point adjacent the surface of said support.

8. In a hat brim ironing machine, in combination, means adapted to support and rotate an oval hat, means adapted to iron the brim of said rotating hat, and means adapted relatively to move said hat and said ironing means during rotation to bring said iron close to the crown of said hat at substantially all points along said brim.

Q In a hat brim ironing machine, in combination, means adapted to support and rotate an oval hat having a brim curved downwardly from the side portions toward theY end portions thereof, a support across which said brim is adapted to move during rotation, means adapted to iron said brim against said support, means adapted during rotation to control the position of said hat to lower` said side portions of said brim as they appreach said iron to bring the' under surface of substantially the entire inner edge portion of said brim against said support as it moves thereby, and means adapted 'relatively to move said hat and said ironing means during rotation to bring said iron close to the crown of said hat at substantially all points along said brim.

10. In a hat brim ironing machine, in combination, a substantially upright shaft, means at the upper end of said shaft adapted to support an oval hat, means adapted to rotate said shaft and said hat supported thereby, means adapted to iron the brim of said rotating hat. means adapted to tip said shaft to move said hat toward said ironing means as the side portions of the brim approach said ironing means, and means adapted to lift said hat to counteract the lowering of the side portions of the hat as said tipping of said shaft occurs.

ll. In a hat brim ironing` machine, in combination, means adapted to support a hat, a reciprocating iron adapted to iron the brim of said hat, and means adapted intermittently to rotate said support to move said brim through said ironing means.

12. In a hat brim ironing machine, in combinaton, means adapted to support a hat, a reciprocating iron adapted to iron the brim of said hat, and a ratchet mechanism adapted intermittentlyV to rotate said support to feed said brim through said ironing means.

13. In a hat brim ironing machine, incom,

bination, means adapted to `support an oval hat, a reciprocating iron adapted to ironi the brim of said oval hat, and meansl adapted intermittently to rotate said support toinove said briiii through said ironing fincans, said rotating means being adapted `t-.Oiinpai'tA a feed of substantially uniform `length of said brim of said oval liattlirougli said ironing fmeans at each intermittent movement.

14.111 a hat brim ironing machine, in corn-i` binatioii, means adapted to support an oval hat, means adapted to iron the brim of said hat, and means comprising an oval ratchet adapted 'to rotate said oval hat toimpart an intermittent feed of substantially uniform amount of said `brim through said ironing means. i

15. In a hat brim ironing machine, in combination, means adapted to lsupport a hat, a reciprocating iron adapted tov iron -thc brim of said hat, and means adapted intermittently to Vfeed said brim past `said iron, said feed occurring atthe time of move-1 rotate a hat, an iron adapted to iron the brim of said hat duringrotation thereof,lspring means urging said iron inwardly against the crown of said hat, and means for adjusting said spring means.

18. In a hat brim ironing machine, in

combination, means adapted to support aV hat, an iron adapted to iron the upper sur face 0f the brim of said hat, vand meansadapted to move said iron in a. curved path across said brim close up to the band of said hat to iron the entire width of the brim.

19. In a hat brim ironing machine, in combination, means adapted to support a hat,

an iron adapted to iron the brim of said hat.,

and means adapted to reciprocate said iron in a curved path across said brim close up to the band of the hat to iron the entire` width of said brim.

20. In a hat brim ironing machine, in comf` bination, means adapted to support a hat, a

pair of heated irons adapted to receive the` brim of said hat therebetween and iron the two sides of said brim,and means adapted to reciprocate said two irons in directions substantially longitudinal of said brim, at least one of said irons moving in a curved path.

21. In a hat :brim `ironing machine, in com-` bination, means adapted to support a hat, a`

heated iron `adapted {to iron the` upper sur`` face of the brim of said hat, means adapted to holdl said iron and the band of` said hat. in engagement, ...and means adapted to,

of said liat,.and means adaptedto reciprof, l

cate said iron overisaid brimin a curved path having a curvature in the same general directioiias the curvature of said hand.

23. In a hat brim ironing machine, i n

combination, means adapted to support a hat, a heated iron adapted to iron,` the upper surface of the `brimofsaid hat and having a part adapted toengage the band portion f,

of the hat at the lower part of the. crown,-

means adapted to feed said brim pastV said iron, and yielding `means for urgingsaid iron inwardly toward said crown toihold said portion thereof in engagementwith said i band portion.

2a. In a hat brim ironing machine, in

combination, means adapted `to support a` hat, a heated iron adapted to iron the upper surface of the brim of said hat and having a part adapted to engage the band portion i of the hat at the lower partV of the crown, means adaptedto feed said brim past said iron, yielding means -forurgmg `saidaron inwardly toward said crown tojhold said portion `thereof in engagement with said band portiomand means adapted to reciprocate said iron in a path having a general I direction longitudinally-of said band.

25. In a hat brim ironing machine,incom bination, Ameans adaptedto support a hat, a heated iron adapted` to iron the upper sur* face ofthe brim of said hat `and havinga` part adapted Ato engage thebandportion of the hat 'at the .lower part, of fthe crown, means adaptedto feed said brim past said iron, yielding means for urging `said iron `inwardly toward-said crown toliold said portion thereof in engagement with said band portiomandmeans for adjusting said yielding means. i

26. In a hat brim ironing machine, in combination, means adapted to support an oval hat, a heated iron adapted to iron the upper surface of the brim `ofisaidliat, means for ro` tating said hat to feed the brim past said iron, and means adapted to l,move said rotating hat bodily toward said iron as the side portions thereof approach said iron `and bodily away from said iron as the end portions thereof approach said iron, to enablesaid iron to operate on said brim close up to the crown at all portions thereof.

27. In a hat brim ironing machine, in comi means for rotating said oval hat to feed the brim past said iron, and spring means urging said iron toward said crown to hold said portion thereof in engagement with said band portion, said lspring means permitting a movemeiitof said iron in a direction away from the axis of rotation of said hat as the band portion lat the ends of saidoval hat approach said iron and a movement of said iron in the opposite directiony as the band portions at the sides of said oval hat approachA said iron. Y i

28. In a'hat brim 'ironing machine, in coinbination, means adapted to support an oval hat, a heated iron adapted to iron the upper surface of the brim'of said hat and having a part adapted to engage the band portion of the hat at the lower portion of the crown, means for rotating said oval hat to feed the brim lpast said iron, and means adapted relatively to move said iron and the axis of rotation of said rotating oval hat to maintain said portion of saidiron always in engagement with the part of saidband portion mov- Y ing thereby.

Q9.- In a hat brim ironing machine, in conibination, means adapted to support an oval hat, a heated iron adapted to iron the upper surface of the brim of said hat and having a part adapted to engage the band portion of the hat at the lower portion of the crown, means for rotating said oval hat to feed the brim past said iron, means adapted relatively to move said iron and the axis of rotation of said rotating oval hat to maintain said portion of said iron always in engagement with the part of said band port-ion moving thereby, and means adapted to give said iron a reciprocating movement in a direction substantiallylongitudinally of said brim.V

30. In a hat brim ironing'machine, in coinbination, means adapted to support an oval hat,'a heated iron adapted to iron the upper surface of the brim of saidhat, means for rotating saidoval hat to feed said bri'i'n pastA said iron, spring means urging said iron Ainwardly against the crown of said hat, and

means adapted to move said rotating hatv bodily toward said iron as the side portions thereof approach said iron and bodily away from said iron as the end portions thereof approach said iron.

3l. In a hat brim ironing machine, in

combination, means adapted to support an oval hat, a heated iron adapted toiron the upper surface of the brim of said hat and having a part adapted to engage the band portion of the hat at the lower portion of the crownx means for rotating said oval hat to feed the brim past said iron, means adapted relatively to move said iron and the aXisrof rotation of said rotating oval hat to maintain said portion of said iron always in engagement with the part of said band portion moving thereby, andl means adapted to lower the side portions of said brim relative to said iron as said side portions move into operative relation to saidv to feed the brim past said iron, meansl adapted relatively to move said iron and the axis of rotation of said rotating oval hat to maintain said portion of said iron valways, in engagement with the part of said band portion moving thereby, means adapted yto lower the side portions of said brim relative to 'said iron as saidside portions move into operative relation to said'iron and adapted to raise the end portions of said brim relative to said iron as said end f portions move into `operative relation to said iron, and means adapted to give saidV iron a reciprocating movement in a direction substantially longitudinally of said brim.

83. In a hat brim ironing machine, in

combination, means adapted to support a hat, means adapted to rotate said supported hat, a heated surface across which the lower surface of the brim of said hat moves during rotation, a heated iron adapted to iron the upper surface of said brim and press said brim against said heated surface, and means for giving said heated surface a reciprocating movement.

34.. In a hat brim ironing machine, in

combination, means adapted to support av hat, Vmeans adapted to rotate said supported hat, a heated surface across which the lower surface of the brim of said hat moves dur- `ing rotation, a heated iron adapted to iron the upper surface of said brim and press said brim against said heated surface, and means for giving said heated surface a reciprocating movement in a direction substantially longitudinally of the direction of movement of said hat brim thereover.

35. In a hat brim ironing machine, in combination, means adapted to support a hat, means adapted to rotate said supported hat, a heated surface across which the lower surface of the brim of said hat nio-ves during rotation, a heated iron adapted to iron the upper surface of said brim and press said brim against said heated surface,

means for holding saidvup 3er iron close in-` to the band of said hat, and means for givcombination, means adapted to support a hat, means adapted to rotate said supported hat, a heated surface across which the lower surface of the brim of said hatmoves during rotation, a heated iron adapted to` iron the upper surface of said brim and press said brim against said heated surface. means for giving said heated surface a reciprocating movement, means for holding said upper iron close into the band of said hat, and means for giving said upper iron a reciprocating movement across said hat brim.

37. In a hat brim ironing machine, in combination, means adapted to support a hat, means adapted to rotate said supported hat, a heated surface across which the lower surface of the brim of said hat moves during rotation, a heated iron adapted to iron the upper surface of said brim and press said brim against said heated surface, means for giving said heated surface a reciprocating movement, means for holdingv said upper iron close into the band of said hat, and means for giving said upper iron a reciprocating movement across said hat brim in a curved path having a curvature in the same general direction as the curvature of said and.

38. In a hat brim ironing machine, in combination, means adapted to support hat, an upper reciprocating iron adapted to iron one surface of the brim of said hat, a support against which said iron presses said hat brim, and means adapted to feed said brim across said support, said feed occurring at the time of movement of said upper iron in the direction of said feed.

39. In a hat brim ironing machine, in combination, means adapted to support a hat, an upper reciprocating iron adapted to iron one surface of the brim of said hat, Ya lower reciprocating iron moving in directions opposite to the directions of movement of said upper iron and against which said upper iron presses said hat brim, and means adapted to feed said brim between said irons, said feed occurring at the time of movement of said upper iron in the direction of said feed.

40. In a hat brim ironing machine, in combination, means adapted to support a hat in substantially upright position, ironing means adapted to iron the brim of .said hat, means adapted to rotate said hat to feed said brim past said ironing means, means adapted to tip said hat to move the same toward said ironing means as the side portions of said hat approach said ironing means, and means adapted at the time of said tipping relatively to move said hat an-dsaid ironing meansto offset thelowering of said side `portions rela-` tive tosaid ironcaused by said tipping.

41. In a hat brim ironing machine, i in combination, means adapted to support a` 7 hat in substantially upright position, iron-` ing means adaptedl to iron the brim of said hat, means adapted to rotate said hat to feed `said brim past said ironing means, means adapted to tip said hat to move the same toward said ironing means as the side portions of said hat approach said ironing means, and means adapted at the time of said tipping to raise said hat bodily to offset the lowering of said side portions dus to said tipping.

42. In a hat brim ironing machine, in combination, a substantially upright shaft, means at the upper end thereof adapted to support a hat, means adapted to operate upon the brim of said hat, means adapted to` rotate said shaft to feed said brim past said operating means, means adapted to tip said shaft to move said hat toward and away from said operating means as the side portions and end portions of the hat respectively approach said operating means, said tipping occurring about aXes transverse to and spaced laterally from the axis of rotation of said shaft and thereby effecting also a bodily lifting and lowering of said shaft and said hat thereon.

43. In a hat brim ironing machine, in combination, a substantially upright shaft, means at the upper end thereof adapted to support a hat, means adapted to operate upon the brim of said hat, means adapted to rotate said shaft to feed said brim past said operating means, means rotatably supporting said shaft at points spaced from the axis of rotation thereof, and means adapted to tilt said shaft about said last means to move said hat toward and away from said operating means during rotation thereof.

44. In a hat brim ironingmachine, in combination, means adapted to support a hat, aniron adapted to iron the upper surface of the brim of said hat, a moving carriage carrying 'said iron, and means urging said iron inwardly relative to `said carriage and against the band portion of the crown of said hat.

45. In a hat brim ironing machine, in combination, means adapted to support a hat, an iron adapted to iron the upper surface of the brim of said hat, a carriage carrying said iron, means for reciprocating said carriage to move said iron back and forth across said hat brim, and means urging said iron inwardly toward said hat relative to said carriage to hold said iron in against the band portion of said hat.

46. In a hat brim ironing machine, in combination, means adapted to support a hat, an iron adapted to iron the upper surface of the brim 'of said hat, a carriage carrelative to said carriage to hold said iron' l'ying said iron, means for reciprocating said 111 against the band portion of Said hat.

carriage to Ymovesaid iron beek and forth In testimony whereof, I have signed my 10 across the brim of said hat n a curved path 11eme t0 this specificatie-11 this 18th day of I having@ curvature in the same general direc- July, 1924.

tion as the curvature of saiclbrim, and means urging said iron inwardly toward said hat l RALPH KVREYNOLDS. 

